Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is leaving the club at the end of teh season. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has highlighted major dangers in their next opponents, Pyramids, ahead of their CAF Champions League semi-final.
The Buccaneers will welcome the Egyptian side to the FNB Stadium on Saturday at 6pm in the first of a two-legged battle between north and south.
The Sea Robbers are having one of their best seasons under the Spanish-born coach and remain in contention for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies this season.
Their next opponents, Pyramids are enjoying a similar season as they lead the Egyptian league ahead of Al Ahly and are in the final of a domestic cup.
Having clinched their quarter-final clash over AS Far Rabat 4-3 in the last round, its clear Pyramids are no slouches even though they're in their first ever semi-finals of this competition.
They find themselves amongst three previous winners, Pirates, Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns, who contend the second semi-final.
Speaking ahead of this encounter, Riveiro threw caution to the way of his players, insisting that The Heir of the Pharaohs had not fluked their way into contention.
“The fact that they're leading their league and doing well in the cup competitions as well, and their brilliant participation in the Champions League tells you a lot about them,” he said.
“But through analysing them, I can tell you they're not here by chance, they've done what we, Al Ahly and Sundowns, have been doing by doing a lot of things right throughout the competition.”
Riveiro expressed that Pirates would need to be at their absolute best to be able to topple their opponents on the day.
“They have a good blend of youngsters and experiences from the back four all through to the attack, and they've mastered the way they want to play football, so we have to make sure we show our best version because any other version will not be enough.”
